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I started gathering these for the catalogues a couple of years ago and only took labelled ones, the 3 coloured eye is a common feature and seems to be a good pointer to Pirelli, as does the use of 'bun' feet and single colour sections. But these are only the first common pointers and the only way of really identifying them is by matching to a labelled example.http://www.ysartglass.com/Indexcat04.htm

Based on that:

Dachsund with yellow ears is Pirelli (Labelled example known)Duck/goose with Santa hat is possible (wings/tail/humour)Fish stick possible (Tips/colour use/humour)Dog black ears possible but instinct is no.Cat possible (feet/compare to catalogue)Rabbit with carrots possible but I am dubiousGiraffe no opinionElephant (feet look Pirelli but ears not and is very different from thoose in cat - but so what! It is still a possible)Dragon - Unlikely due to textured featuresOwl is Pirelli (Eyes/feet/humour/style)Peacocks maybe

Of course apart from the Dachsund and Owl these are very much guesses based on too small a sample of experience. Can I use your labelled pics for the catalogues please - ideally a front and a profile view... full credit of course.

Great collection. Pirelli do well on eBay these days so if you intend to sell do let us know - post a link in the market forum. If you intend to join the small but growing group of collectors for these, welcome on board.

thanks Frank for you help identifying the animals .. We are still undecided as to whether we are going to sell them or keep them in your opinion How much do you think they would fetch at auction? are they going to increase in value?

You certainly can have pictures of the labeled figures. I will take some better pics of them for you later today Do I just put a link here or send them somewhere ?

You can email them to me using the email button at the bottom frame of this message.

Some Pirelli are going for remarkable prices, as you may have noticed me remarking in this forum but there is generally little logic to this - it is just collectors competing but only a few seem to be willing to pay so high.

Generally they sell better than the average for lampworked pieces because they are indentifiable. I have paid as little as 1 pound for a piece and as much as 15 for normal run of the mill pieces. More for unusual or species that are popular for theme collectors. Guinness ones fetch the most but only because of the guinness connection. Figures and cartoon characters do better than animals and dogs and elephants are by far the most common. The more fragile will also do better on the assumption that less survive. But ultimately a higher price is because more than one person is eager to own a particular piece. As the catalogue expands, so interest will grow and prices will develop a more predictable pattern.